Product Code Database
[[File:Boat MARY B moored beside the Pacific Net and Twine Company dock, Seattle waterfront, probably (SEATTLE 2946).jpg|thumb|Boat Mary B. moored beside the Pacific Net and Twine Company in Seattle, which sold sails and rigging and ship's chandlery items]] A ship chandler is a retail dealer who specializes in providing supplies or equipment for ships. The Maritime Industry Knowledge Centre
Today's chandlers deal more in goods typical for fuel-powered commercial ships (oil tanker, container ship, and bulk carrier) including maintenance supplies, cleaning compounds, and food stores for the crew.
A distinguishing feature of a ship chandler is the high level of service demanded and the short time required to fill and deliver orders. Commercial ships discharge and turn around quickly; delay is expensive, making the services of a dependable ship chandler in great demand. Advantages, today and in the past, are that stores in unfamiliar ports do not need to be sought out, and lines of credit make exchanging of currency a non-issue. (Usually a ship owner would establish a line of credit with the chandler and then be billed for anything delivered to the crew.) Chandlers also deliver the product, freeing up crew to work on repairs or, if allowed, take shore leave.
The ship chandlery business was central to the existence and the social and political dynamics of ports and their waterfront areas. Ship chandlers are typically supplied by nearby merchants.
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